NERC Issues 2002 Summer Assessment

NERC issued its 2002 Summer Assessment today. "We expect that generating resources will be adequate to meet projected demand for electricity in North America this summer," said Michehl R. Gent, President and CEO of NERC. "Capacity margins have increased substantially in several areas of North America during the past year," he added, "and although much of North America is experiencing drought conditions,

Advertisement

Advertisement

NERC issued its 2002 Summer Assessment today. "We expect that generating resources will be adequate to meet projected demand for electricity in North America this summer," said Michehl R. Gent, President and CEO of NERC. "Capacity margins have increased substantially in several areas of North America during the past year," he added, "and although much of North America is experiencing drought conditions, we do not expect this to materially impact reliability." The report states that transmission systems in North America are expected to perform reliably, although transmission congestion will occur again this summer. The report also notes that fuel supplies, inventories and deliveries are expected to be adequate this summer.

The assessment points out two areas of concern: southwestern Connecticut and southern Nevada. Local transmission limitations into southwestern Connecticut and tight capacity margins in southern Nevada make these areas particularly susceptible to reliability problems associated with any delays in the installation of new resources, lower than expected generating unit availability or extreme weather.

The report notes that California, New York City and Long Island are expected to have adequate capacity margins throughout the summer. The balance between capacity and demand in California has improved since last summer due to decreases in the demand for electricity and the addition of about 5,000 MW of new generating resources in the area. The addition of about 450 MW of new resources in New York City and Long Island should enable these areas to reliably serve their firm demands and meet their required levels of internal generation.

To download the report, go to: http://www.nerc.com/~filez/rasreports.html. The NERC web site also includes information about NERC reliability standards, publications, technical committees and related programs and activities.

NERC is a not-for-profit company formed as a result of the Northeast blackout in 1965 to promote the reliability of the bulk electric systems that serve North America. It works with all segments of the electric industry as well as customers to "keep the lights on" by developing and encouraging compliance with rules for the reliable operation of these systems. NERC comprises ten Regional Reliability Councils that account for virtually all the electricity supplied in the United States, Canada and a portion of Baja California Norte, Mexico.

EC&M White Papers

In the United States, medium-voltage (MV) power distribution typically uses withdrawable circuit breaker switchgear (WCBS). Withdrawable breakers allow for regular maintenance and provide an easily visible confirmation of circuit isolation but at a cost — having removable parts and the act of inserting and withdrawing breakers could result in the possibility of arc flash incidents. Modern fixed circuit breaker switchgear (FCBS), which uses highly reliable and virtually maintenance-free vacuum and gas breakers, eliminates this concern and introduces other potential advantages....More

Data breaches and other cyber crime cost companies billions each year worldwide, and the damage to brand reputation can be incalculable. Since hackers look for weakly defended systems to attack, this paper presents 5 cybersecurity “best practices” to mitigate system vulnerabilities. Some are commonsense measures like effective password management; others involve securing open ports and other access points, software upgrades, user management, and vulnerability plans....More

A top priority for higher education institutions is to provide a competitive learning environment for their students. In order to succeed, they must address outdated, aging campus facilities. In these older buildings maintenance and operations costs are high, space utilization is inefficient and poorly managed, and current technology is lacking. This white paper explores four strategies for converting campus facilities into a network of smart buildings that address the needs of current and future students....More

Are you protected in the event of short circuit fault? Stainless steel cable ties provide a durable method of bundling, identifying and fastening cable in severe and harsh conditions.
Productivity. Reliability. Safety. We’ve Got You Covered....More